Close Alert Banner
Skip to Content

District Municipality of Muskoka Logo District of Muskoka Print Logo

Contact UsContact Us
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • Categories
    • Airport
    • Area Municipalities
    • Business, Planning & Development
    • Careers and Volunteering
    • Children and Seniors
    • Community Services and Support
    • Council
    • EnviroHub
    • Finance and Administration
    • Garbage and Recycling
    • Health and Emergency Services
    • Housing
    • Provincial Offences Court
    • Roads and Transportation
    • Water and Sewer
    • Engage Muskoka
    • Feedback and Engagement
    • News and Public Notices

Feedback and Engagement

Historic Waste Sites

HomeGarbage and RecyclingSpecial and Seasonal ProgramsHistoric Waste Sites
  • Open new window to share this page via Facebook Facebook
  • Open new window to share this page via LinkedIn LinkedIn
  • Open new window to share this page via Twitter Twitter
  • Email this page Email

The District of Muskoka is responsible for the care and maintenance of 37 active and closed waste sites across the municipality. On January 1, 1996, all waste management powers were transferred to the District as several Area Municipalities had either faced or were about to face a waste disposal crisis. On June 16, 2014, the District assumed ownership and responsibility of all municipally-owned closed waste disposal sites within the District.  

The District is committed to preventing and addressing impacts from historic waste sites. Environmental monitoring and remediation projects represent an important on-going commitment by the District to address impacts from historic landfilling. Responsibility for any closed or inactive landfill sites can include a wide variety of activities from monitoring and reporting, excavation and waste removal, maintenance of surface cover placed on the site, tree planting and hydroseeding, ensuring site security, and completing routine inspections to identify any areas of improvement.

To date, the District has invested $4.2 million on environmental monitoring/reporting, remediation and maintenance projects of these historical sites. The care of these sites is part of the District’s commitment to environmental stewardship and building a better waste system for Muskoka.

Planned 2023 remediation activities

Through MECP/District staff site inspections and consultant recommendations, a long-term plan was developed to prioritize and address outstanding requirements at various sites under District responsibility. District staff have met with the MECP to discuss and present this path forward resulting in a mutually agreeable approach. Priorities for 2023 are highlighted below:
Foot's Bay, Walker's Point, Windemere

Remediation work will include removing exposed waste, applying cover and grass seed in areas where waste is removed.

Port CarlingOn-going remediation work continues at the Port Carling closed site.

The Hazelwood Trail was closed in September 2022 for additional clean up efforts that started in 2021. There remains additional work at this site to address remaining waste along the trail, potentially covering some problematic areas and addressing offsite waste.

Please stay on the trail and avoid fenced off areas due to broken glass.

Brackenrig, Watt, and Ullswater remediation activities – 2022

Exposed waste was removed and cover was maintained at the Watt, Brackenrig, and Ullswater closed landfills, located in the Township of Muskoka Lakes, throughout the summer of 2022. This resulted in numerous tonnes of waste being removed from the site. Once complete, grass seed was applied to the areas where waste was present. 

Photo Gallery: Brackenrig Watt and Ullswater will appear here on the public site.
Finlayson and Draper remediation activities – 2019, 2021

District staff completed a manual clean-up of the Finlayson and the Draper closed landfills, located in Lake of Bays and Bracebridge, respectively, resulting in several truckloads of exposed waste being removed from the sites. 

Photo Gallery: Finlayson and Draper Clean-up will appear here on the public site.
Sparrow Lake – Restoration Activities – 2019, 2020

At the Sparrow Lake closed landfill in Gravenhurst, work was completed in two areas, the eastern and northern sections of the former landfill. Work on the eastern portion included the burial of exposed waste, placement of clean soil materials as final cap, and the application of topsoil and grass seed to the area. In the northern portion, some asphalt waste was removed however, upon determining the volume was much greater than originally expected, the remaining asphalt was buried and appropriate materials were used as a soft cap. 

Photo Gallery: Sparrow Lake will appear here on the public site.
Housey’s Rapids restoration activities – 2019

At the Housey’s Rapids closed landfill in Gravenhurst, grading, final capping, and hydroseeding activities were completed onsite. Additionally, a gravel parking lot was laid for users of the nearby trail and fencing and gating were installed around the parking lot to restrict access to the former waste management site.

Photo Gallery: Housey's Rapids will appear here on the public site.

For more information on the environmental monitoring and remediation projects completed by the District, please see report: PW-6-2023-5 Environmental Monitoring and Remediation Projects – 2023 Update
I
f you have questions, please contact us at waste@muskoka.on.ca or 705-645-2100.

Subscribe to page updates
Garbage and Recycling
    • No Time to Waste
    • Collection Impacts and Delays
    • Collection Programs
      • Curbside Garbage Collection
      • Green Bin Organics Collection
      • Recycling
    • Drop-Off Locations and Landfill
      • Rosewarne Landfill
      • Rosewarne Public Liaison Committee
    • Find Your Collection Schedule
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Submit a Missed Collection/Feedback
    • Lakeside Waste Collection
    • Special and Seasonal Programs
      • Donate Reusable Items
      • Electronic Waste Drop-Off
      • Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off
      • Leaf and Yard Waste
      • Waste Management in the Township of Georgian Bay
      • Waste Management in the Township of Lake of Bays
      • Historic Waste Sites
      • Holiday Waste Guide
    • Where Does It Go - Put Waste in its Place
    • Clean Muskoka Together
    • Bear Wise Tips

Contact Us

District Municipality of Muskoka footer logo

Contact Us

The District Municipality of Muskoka

70 Pine Street
Bracebridge, ON P1L 1N3

Phone: 705-645-2100
Fax: 705-645-5319

  • Quick Links

    • Accessibility
    • Freedom of Information and Privacy
    • Terms of Use
    • Sitemap
    • Website Feedback
    • SIMON
  • Connect with Us

View our Facebook Page Facebook View our Twitter Page Twitter View our YouTube Page YouTube View our LinkedIn Page LinkedIn

© Copyright 2021 The District Municipality of Muskoka

Designed by eSolutionsGroup

Close Old Browser Notification
Browser Compatibility Notification
It appears you are trying to access this site using an outdated browser. As a result, parts of the site may not function properly for you. We recommend updating your browser to its most recent version at your earliest convenience.